Bathing-cap.



I. W. LITCHFIELD.

BATHING CAP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, 1913.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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winessas': Jivwemim' ISAAC WfLITCI-IIEIELD, or NEWTON,- MASSACHUSETTS.

BATHING-CAP.

v Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed October 17, 1913. Serial No.'795,636'.

To all whom it may concern: it

Be it known that I, ISAAC W. LITCHFIELD,

a citizen of the United States, residingat Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bathing-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

Bathing-caps, heretofore, have been provided with various means for tightening their edge-portions about the head of'the wearer to guard against leakage of water, but, so far as I am aware none have been successful in accomplishing this result, at"=.

"It will not be an annoyance to th wearer,

least, to any great extent, and under all conditions, unless tightened so tightly as to severely bind the'head and cause discomfort to the wearer.

This invention has for its object to PIO? vide a bathingcap with means at its edgeportionwhich may be tightened about the head of the wearer and which will positively guard against leakage, and yet will not severelybind the head and cause discom. fort t0 the wearer.

The inventioncomprehends the employmentof a pneumatic engaging portion at the edge of the'cap, adapted to be inflated, and when inflated to positively yet yieldingly engage the head of the wearer and conform to all irregularities thereof, and insure a water-tight joint or connection.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bathingcap embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the inflating-means arranged for operation, a portion of the cap being broken away to illustrate the pneumatic edge-portion in section. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a means-"for confining the tube which, is employed to inflate the pneumatic edge-portion. Fig. 4 is an enlarged under side view of the cap and inflating-means. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the pneumatic edge-portion inflated, and, Fig. 6 is a similar sectional detail of the pneumatic edge-portion deflated.

The cap or hood 10, may be of any wellknown or suitable construction. It has a pneumatic edge-portion adapted to tightly engage the head of the wearer, and, as here shown, said edge-portion consists of a rubber tube 12, which is cemented or otherwise attached to the edge-portion of the cap, and which is longitudinally extensible and is adapted to be inflated to engage the head. Said tube extends entirely around the edgeportion of the cap. .A smaller tube 15 is connected in any suitable manner, as for instance by a coup-ling, with the tube 12, and said tube 15 is made long enough to reach the mouth of the wearer when the cap is placed on the head, as represented in Fig. 2, sothat the wearer may, by blowing into the tube '15, inflate the tube 12 and sired, and at least tight enough-to produce a water-tight joint or connection with the head. Although said tube 15 is quite short, unless it is detached, it is desirable to confine it when not in use, or hold it so that and, as here shown, the confining-means comprehends a short length of ribbon 20, attached at one endto the cap, its other end being free to be tied to another and simi sented in Fig. 3, and being composed of rubher is flexible to conform to the bending o cause it to engage the head as tightly as dethe ribbon. a

A closing-valve of any suitable construe-- tion will be provided by which to close the tube 15' by compressing it, thereby to hold the air in the inflated tube 12,- and, as here shown, a closing-valve of ordinary construc I tion is represented comprising a base-plate 25 having ears 26 thereon to pivotally sup:

1. As a newarticle-of manufacture, a'

bathing-cap having a longitudinally extensible pneumatic edge-portion adapted to be inflated for engaging the head of the wearer, substantially as described. 7

2. As a new article of manufacture, a

bathing-cap having an inflatable rubber tube attached to its edge-portion and extended ,entirely around it having means for inflating it for engaging the head of the wearer,

substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a

bathing-cap having a pneumatic edge-portion extended entirely around it and a flexible tube connected therewith with a closingvalve for inflating said pneumatic edge-portion for engaging the head of the wearer, substantially as described.

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4. As a new article. of manufacture, a lnqtestimony whereof, I have signed In i valve for inflating said pneumatic edge-p01 name to this specification, in th presence of 1) tion extended entirely around it and a fiexitwo subscribing witnesses. I

ble tube connected therewith with a closingm valve for inflating said pneumatic edge-po i- LITGHFIELD' tion for engaging the head of the wearer, L Witnesses:

- and means to confine said tube when not B. J. Noyns, in use, substantially as described. H. B. DAvIs. 

